Michael D Higgins was tonight celebrating his imminent election as the ninth President of Ireland after the first official nationwide count. Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness made a poor performance coming in third, with Sean Gallagher polling very well in second place after McGuinness's attack on him on establishment TV.
A number of further counts will be required to bring Mr Higgins past the 50% +1 barrier necessary to be officially elected, but at this stage he can’t be caught.
His six presidential rivals had admitted as much earlier in the day, each conceding defeat in turn and offering their congratulations to the septuagenarian.
With the quota at 885,882, the cumulative results of the first count were:
- Michael D Higgins 701,101
- Seán Gallagher 504,964
- Martin McGuinness 243,030
- Gay Mitchell 113,321
- David Norris 109,469
- Dana Rosemary Scallon 51,202
- Mary Davis 48,657
Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated.
Amid hectic scenes at the National Count Centre in Dublin Castle, president-elect Mr Higgins said his term in office would be about inclusion, ideas and transformation.
“I feel a little overwhelmed,” he said.
“I’m very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while.
“I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of.”
Mr Higgins paid tribute to the other candidates, and said many of their ideas would be incorporated into his presidency.
While his campaign was born out of an ethos of the left, he said he would serve as a president for all of the people whether they voted for him or not.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I think it will be exciting and wonderful,” he said.
A number of further counts will be required to bring Mr Higgins past the 50% +1 barrier necessary to be officially elected, but at this stage he can’t be caught.
His six presidential rivals had admitted as much earlier in the day, each conceding defeat in turn and offering their congratulations to the septuagenarian.
With the quota at 885,882, the cumulative results of the first count were:
- Michael D Higgins 701,101
- Seán Gallagher 504,964
- Martin McGuinness 243,030
- Gay Mitchell 113,321
- David Norris 109,469
- Dana Rosemary Scallon 51,202
- Mary Davis 48,657
Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated.
Amid hectic scenes at the National Count Centre in Dublin Castle, president-elect Mr Higgins said his term in office would be about inclusion, ideas and transformation.
“I feel a little overwhelmed,” he said.
“I’m very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while.
“I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of.”
Mr Higgins paid tribute to the other candidates, and said many of their ideas would be incorporated into his presidency.
While his campaign was born out of an ethos of the left, he said he would serve as a president for all of the people whether they voted for him or not.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I think it will be exciting and wonderful,” he said.
